Rotary motor.



Patented Apr. 30, 190|.

` F. L. wAKEF n.

ROTARY M R.

(Application led Oct. 9, 1899.)

UNITED STATES yPATENT OFFICE..

FRED LEE WAKEFIELD, OF MONTPELIER, VERMONT.

ROTARY M OTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,148, dated April 30, 1901.

Application filed October 9,1899. Serial No. 7333024. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, FEED LEE WAKEFIELD, of Montpelier, in the county of Washington and State of Vermont, have invented a new and Improved Rotary Motor, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in rotary motors, and comprises the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a sectional elevation of my motor, taken in a plane at right angles to the shaft. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan View taken upon the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a section taken in an axial plane through the upper portion of the steam-cylinder.

The object of my invention is to produce a rotary motor which may be used in connection with any of the usual motive agents-as steam, compressed air, and water-but which is especially designed for use with steam or compressed air. While it is evident that my motor may be operated by any of these motive agents, it is herein described as beingV operated by steam. This is, however, not to be construed as limiting it to the use of steam as a motive agent, as other agents will operate in the same manner, except that liquids will not expand.

The casing A, which forms the cylinder and which in connection with the outer periphery of the piston-disk forms the steam-space, is mounted upon any suitable support and is provided with connections at Aand A2 for the exhaust and live steam. These two steam connections are separated by a partition d, which forms the abutment of the engine. The inner end of this abutment bears upon the outer periphery of the piston-disk B and is provided with a packing-strip d', so as to make steam-tight connection between the abutment and piston-disk. The piston-disk, as herein shown, resembles a Wheel, the outer rim being connected with the central hub by means of spokes. This, however, is an immaterial point, as a web may be used instead. It is, however, necessary that the rim of the wheel or disk project at each side beyond the web or spokes connecting with the shaft C.

The steam-space between the periphery of the piston-disk B and the casing A varies in area. As here shown, this space is divided up into three sections D, D', and D2, comprising, respectively, high-pressure, intermediate-pressure,and low-pressu re cylinders. The piston-disk is provided with three setsof pivoted piston-heads, each set consisting of three heads E, E', and E2, which are pivoted, respectively, by pins e, e', and e2 to the outer periphery of the disk B. The disk Bis recessed in its outer periphery in such manner as to permit these heads being folded down upon the disk and lying entirely within the outer periphery thereof.

The piston-heads E, which are the highpressure piston-heads, are of such length that when thrown outward into the position shown in Fig. l their outer edges will bear against the inner periphery of that part of the casing which is included within the limits of the high-pressure section D. Similarly the piston-heads E and E2 are of such a size as to lit within their respective sections and close the steam-passage. Just ck of 'each of the pivot-points of these pistons a shoulder b is formed upon the piston-disk, which limits the backward movement of the piston-head and forms a better support therefor. Beneath each one of the piston-heads and extending through the rim of the disk B is a hole which receives a pin by which the piston-head may be positively thrown outward into an operative position.

Pins F act upon the piston-heads E, the pins F act upon the piston-heads E', and the pins E2 upon the piston-heads E2. Preferably these pins are arranged in pairs, two pins acting upon each piston-head and being located one upon each side of the central web or spokes. These pins are provided with springs f, adapted to draw them toward the center, so` that their heads project inwardly fromthe inner periphery of the rim B.

Three sets of arms H are provided, which are secured to the outer casing A and project inwardly beyond the edge of the rim B. These are provided with wheels h, jonrnaled thereon and of such size as to roll upon the inner periphery of the rirn B. Three sets of these Wheels are employed, each set being adapted to engage the pins which operate one IOO set of the piston-heads. The pins by which these piston-heads are operated are -arranged in ditferent planes, so that the Wheel h will operate the pins' actuating lthe high-pressure piston-heads, the Wheels h' will operate the pins actuating the intermediate piston-heads, and the Wheel h2 Will operate the pins actuating the low-pressure piston-heads.

The rim B of the piston-disk is providedwith flanges B' at each side thereof, extending outwardly a little beyond the outer periphery of the low-pressure cylinder D2, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. These flanges lie within grooves formed in the cylinder-casing A. These flanges are also provided with slight recesses G, Gr', and G2, adapted to accommodate the ends ofthe piston-heads E,E,and E2. The casing A is also provided with flanges' A and A2, projecting inwardly and outside of the flanges B on4 the piston-disk. By increasing the number of these flanges alternately upon the piston-disk B and casing A and interlocking each other the steam in escaping would be obliged to pass so many right-angle turns that the frictio'nal resistance 'of the steam would overcome the steam-pressure, thereby doing away with the necessity of packing. The Whole 'of the casing is not shown in the drawings, as the por-tion that notshown is not considered an improvement.

The operation of my'device Vis as follows: The live steam enters through 'the nozzle c62 and bears against the high-pressure pistonhead E. The pistou-disk rotates until the highpressure piston-head E passesthe `shoulder between the sections D and D. Just before the piston-head E passes 'over this sho-ulder the intermediate piston-head E is thrown outward by having its pin F engage the wheel h'. As` suon as the high-pressure piston-head vE has cleared this, 'shoulder the steam is allowed t'oexfpand and acts upon the piston-head E. As soon as 'the piston-head E passes the next shoulder between the intermediate and l'oW pressure cylinders the piston-head E2 becomes the Working h'ead. This head has been similarly thrown out just prior to this time by having its pin F2 engage the wheel h2. This permits 4'the steam'to further expand in the `low-pressurecylinder D2. As the piston-heads contact with the abutment d they are folded downward into the recesses formed in the rim of the piston-disk and remain in this position until forced outward. It will thus be seen that the steam is used in this engine 'expansi'vely, the number of expansions depending upon the number of shoulders which are formed in the cylinder and the consequent num ber of cylinders which are formed.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A rotary motor, having a Working 'chamber divided into sections of successively-increasing area,and`a piston-disk having hinged piston-heads 'arranged in sets, each head of a set being adapted for use in a different section of the cylinder, substantially as described. Y

2. A rotary motor, having a working chamber divided into sections of successively-increasing area, a piston-disk having hinged piston-heads arranged in sets, each head of a set being adapted for use in a dierent sec.- 'tion of the cylinder, pins passing through the rim of the disk and adapted to engage said heads to throw them outward, and fixed contact members outside the cylinder adapted to engage the outer ends of saidv pins to actuate them, substantially as described.

3. Arotary motor, having a working chamber divided into sections of successively-increasing area, a piston-disk having hinged piston-heads arranged in sets, each head of a set being adapted for use in a dinerentsection of the cylinder, pins passing through the rim of 'the 'disk and adapted to lengage said heads to throw them outward, the pins for each sized head being in a common plane, and those for different sizes in different planes, and a fixed contact member outside Athe cylinder for each s'et of pins adapted to engage and actua'te said pins as the disk revolves, substantially as described.

4. A rotary motor, having a working chamber divided into sections of successively-increasing area, a 'piston-disk having hinged piston-heads arranged in sets, each head of a set being adapted for use in va different section of the cylinder, the disk periphery being recessed to permit the heads folding down, pins passing thro-ugh the disk-rim beneath the heads and adapted to engage the heads to "force them outward, springs for retra'c-ting said pins, and wheels arranged within the rim of the diskrand adapted to engage the inner ends Aof vsaid pins to force them outward, snbstantially as described.

5. A rotary motor, having a Working chamber divided into 'sections `of successively-increasing area, a piston-disk having hinged piston-heads arranged in sets, each head of a set being adapted for use in a diierent siection of the cylinder, the disk periphery being recessed to permit the heads folding down, pins passing through the ldisikerim beneath the heads and .adapted to engage the heads to force them outward, and fixed contact members within the rim of the disk 'and adapted toenga'ge the inner ends-of said pins to "force them outward, substantially as described.

6. A rotary motor, having a Vworking chamber divided int'osectiens Vof successively-increasing iarea, a piston-disk having hinged piston-heads arranged `in sets, each 'head of a set being adapted for use i-n adiiferent section 'of vthe cylinder, the disk periphery being recessed to permit the heads folding down, pins passing through :the disk-rim beneath the heads and vadapted to engage the heads Vto force them outward, springs for retrac-ting said pins, wheels arranged Within vthe rim IOO IIO

of the disk and adapted to engage the inner ends of said pins to force them outward, the pins for each sized head being in a common plane and those for different sizes in different planes, substantially as described.

7. A rotary motor, comprising a cylinder or casing having a working chamber, a pistoudisk having its edge entering said chamber, piston-heads hinged to the disk and adapted to Iill said steam-chamber when swung outward, pins passing through the disk-rim and adapted to engage the inner sides of the piston-heads to force them outward, and fixedlylocated contact members outside the cylinder adapted to engage the inner ends of said pins to force them outward, substantially as described.

8. A rotary motor, comprising a cylinder or casing having a working chamber, a piston-disk having its edge entering said chamber, piston heads hinged to the disk and adapted to ll said steam chamber when swung upward, pins passing through the diskrim and adapted to engage the inner sides of the piston-heads to force them upward, arms extending inwardly from the cylinder over the edge of the piston-disk, wheels upon said arms adapted to engage the projecting pins to force them outward, and a fixed abutment within the cylinder adapted to engage the heads to force them inward, substantially as described.

9. A rotary motor comprising a casing, a piston-disk revoluble therein, anges to the disk and overlapping the casing, heads hinged to the disk within the chamber formed between said disk and casing, pins slidably mounted within the piston-disk and contact-5 ing with the heads, and means without said chamber for automatically actuating the pins and heads.

l0. A rotary motor comprising a casing, a disk mounted therein and having ilanges contacting with the sides of the casing, a head secured to the disk within the chamber formed between said disk and casing, a pin projecting through the disk and adapted to contact with said head, an arm secured to the outer face of the casing, and means upon the end thereof extending within the disk and adapted to actuate the pin and head.

11. In a rotary motor, a casing having annular recesses in the sides thereof, a pistondisk revoluble within the casing, flanges to the disk bearing within the recesses of the casing, and flanges upon the sides of the casing overlapping said disk-flanges.

l2. In a rotary motor, a sh aft, a piston-disk secured thereto, fianges to the disk having recesses therein, shoulders formed by said recesses, a casing concentric to the disk and between the flanges, heads secured to the disk between said disk and the casing and the ends thereof adapted to rest within the recesses and bear upon the shoulders thereof when in working position, and ixedly-located contact members outside the casing adapted to actuate said heads.

13. A rotary motor comprising a casing, a cylindrical piston disk revoluble therein, flanges thereto overlapping the casing, heads hinged to the disk at a point within -the chamber formed between the disk and casing, and rigid means fixed without the chamber for automatically operating the heads.

14. A rotary motor comprising a casing of varying thickness, a tubular piston-disk revoluble therein, piston-heads hinged to the disk, flanges to the disk overlapping the casing, said disk, `casing and flanges forming a chamber divided into sections of successivelyincreasing area, and rigid means fixed within the piston-disk for automatically operating the heads.

15. In a rotary motor, a casing having annular recesses in the sides thereof, a pistondisk revoluble within the casing, iianges to the disk bearing within the recesses of the casing, piston-heads pivoted to the disk, and rigid means fixed within the disk for operating the heads successively.

16. In a rotary motor, a shaft, a cylindrical piston-disk secured thereto, .flanges to the disk, a casing concentric to the disk, and between the flanges, heads pivoted to the disk between said disk and the casing, and rigid lXedly-located contact members outside the casing and within the disk adapted to actuate said heads successively.

FRED LEE WAKEFIELD.

Witnesses:

FLORENCE A. HILL, FRED A. HowLAND. 

